FAYETTE, Iowa - A 19-4 run to open the second half would guide the University of Minnesota Crookston to a dominant 79-59 win over Upper Iowa University Friday night at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, Iowa. The Golden Eagles would have all five starters score in double-figures led by 18 points from Katrina Moenkedick (Jr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) and 17 points from Alexa Thielman (Jr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science). The Golden Eagles move to 9-10 (8-7 NSIC) with Friday's win. Upper Iowa falls to 5-14 (3-12 NSIC) with the loss.

Moenkedick coupled her 18 points with seven rebounds. In addition to Moenkedick and Thielman, Ebony Livingston (Sr., G/F, Minneapolis, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) chipped in 13 points and eight
rebounds. Emily Gruber (Fr., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Undecided) added 12 points and eight boards, while Micaela Noga (Fr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management) had 10 points.

The Golden Eagles were 31-of-66 from the field for 47 percent and 7-of-21 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. They were dominant in the second half, going 19-of-32 for 59.3 percent.

Upper Iowa had three players score double-figures led by 18 points and seven boards from Olivia Winkler. Lindsay Carroll added 10 points, while Aleesha Cleaver chipped in 10 points.

The Peacocks were 25-of-62 for 40.3 percent from the field and 6-of-19 for 31.6 percent from beyond the arc.

UMC dominated the glass by a tune of 43-30 with 14 offensive rebounds on the game.

The Golden Eagles would jump out to an 11-5 lead as Thielman hit a runner in the lane with 14 minutes left in the first half. However, the Peacocks would charge and would get to within one with 9:15 remaining in the half following a Cleaver trey from the top of the key. UMC would be able to fight off the Peacocks with a Livingston put-back and a Noga three to extend their advantage back out to 21-15 with eight minutes left in the period.

However, Upper Iowa would not go away as they got back to within one with a Lauren Buck jumper in the lane to make it 25-24 with 4:52 left in the half. Upper Iowa would take the lead on a Sarah Benson lay-in with 3:30 left in the half and would extend their advantage to 29-25 with an Ashley Rosentiel trey from the wing.

The Golden Eagles wouldn't let the Peacocks hold the lead for long though as they rallied to tie up the game 29-29 on a Noga jumper with two minutes left in the half. UMC would be able to take the lead back as Ashley Martell (Sr., G, Somerset, Wis./Health Science) hit a three to give the Golden Eagles a 32-31 lead with 1:20 left in the half. Upper Iowa would take the advantage back on a Buck lay-in with under a minute left, but a pair of Livingston free throws would put the Golden Eagles ahead 34-33, a lead they would hold going into the half.

UMC would be the led at the break by Noga, who had eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Livingston would add seven points and six rebounds, while Moenkedick had six points. Minnesota Crookston was 12-of-34 from the field for 35.3 percent from the field and 4-of-11 for 36.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Upper Iowa was led at the break by 10 points from Carroll, while Winkler chipped in eight points and six boards. The Peacocks were 14-of-31 from the field for 45.2 percent and 4-of-9 from three for 44.4 percent.

Upper Iowa would come out of the break and quickly take the lead with a Winkler bucket. The Golden Eagles would take the lead back and go on a 19-4 run to open the half led by eight points from Moenkedick and seven from Thielman to lead 53-37 with 14 minutes left in the game. UMC would be able to extend their lead to 74-49 with five minutes left in the game. The Golden Eagles would claim a 79-59 win over the Peacocks.

Minnesota Crookston will finish up the weekend against Winona State University Sat., Jan. 31 at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern
Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).